Chapter Four:
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It took us approximately three hours to get from New York to Northampton.
About time, too; I couldn't stand the car ride with Angel latched onto my arm like glue!
During the ride, April and Angel chattered and droned on and about clothes and fashion, then about relevant and irrelevant things about the redhead's antique shop, something about the window and the things that were put on display. I gathered April wanted to change the interior look of the shop, in hope it would attract more customers, while Angel insisted that it looked just fine and should be left as it is.
Not that I would have cared much, but their continuous natters unfortunately revived my headache, it started bounding against my tender brain. I tried to distract myself and not listen to their mindless banter, to focus on the countryside through the window or enjoy the view or something. But I ended up dozing with the side of my forehead pressed against the glass, before Angel tugged me closer to rest my head on her shoulder.
I slept through the rest of the ride, it was very welcomed and peaceful and it eased off the drumming in my head. Luckily and thankfully, when we finally arrived at the farmhouse, they never poked or teased me about falling sleep and sowing logs so damn loud, no matter how Casey wanted to April just didn't let him. She knows I have problems and snore really loud during asleep, I can't help it.
I guess that explains why my voice is so gruff.
After we arrived, April and Angel busied themselves and got the house tidied up and cleaned from the inside. They started with the bathrooms, den and then the kitchen, they left the bedrooms for last.
Casey and I made sure the facilities were in good functional order. The water was clean and with no rust in the tanks. The electric cables were connected in their rightful plugs and were not chews up by farm vermin, or withered away by the neglect or weather. All the locks were secure and didn't need changing or fixing. Made sure the hinges were oiled so they won't creek, and then checked for any squeaky wooden tiles and such.
By nightfall, we gathered in the den and talked only a little, we were just too tired and hungry.
The rest of the evening remained relatively peaceful.
April and Angel made dinner while Casey and I had a bit of a squabble.
The car was almost out of gas and he might have to call a cab, to go to town and get the needed fuel. I shrugged and reminded him about the gas station he passed before I feel asleep, and quoted what he said about the gas being more than enough, and that he didn't need to waste money when the tank was so full, then yapped something about the price of gas these days that bore me to death, but nevertheless he was the only one to blame.
In the end the squabble turn into a game, it was more like an alphabetized name calling, really.
He said it was something Don started, but I had no memory of it either being played between them, not while I'm around anyway, or Don even mentioning it in any shape or form, therefore did not comment.
I was still partly upset at him, or more upset at myself for being fooled into this trip, this name-calling game sort of helped me vent out some of the frustration. In a way I found it was actually quite good, it helped me get a load of negativity off my chest.
Although I really thought this little getaway trip was just for the two of us, I was disappointed at my human friend. I thought he invited me to this little escape, because I figured Casey wanted to talk to me about Angel, without scaring me off and to get things settled between us.
Scare me off? Nah, I don't think so. Rough me up maybe, but not scare me off.
"So what do any of you have in mind for tomorrow?" Casey asked from over his dinner plate.
"Well, I was thinking of going into town to get some groceries." April informed quietly, "The fridge is pretty empty and we didn't bring much with us." she gestured to the meal, "What we have wont last till tomorrow night, I'm afraid." She pointed out.
"Okay, I'll take you to town tomorrow morning then." Casey nodded to his girl, before he turned his attention to Angel, "What about you? Wanna go window shopping or something while we're there?"
"Nah, no thanks." The youth shrugged, a lock of dark purple hair slipped from behind her ear and rested delicately on her shoulder, so she set down her silver fork and groomed her hair back with her fingers behind her ear, "I was thinking of taking a stroll down to the lake. I want to see if there are any birds or turtles pond there." She said giddily then grinned at me, "What about you, Raph?"
I shrugged and half busied myself with the meal, I moved it around the plate absently, and half tried to ignore the still evident smell of dust around me. In spite of the fact that the girls have spent so long getting the kitchen cleaned, I could still smell the dust; or maybe it was just me. "Sleep in tomorrow, I guess." I muttered and focused more on the meal; I scooped some into my mouth so I won't have to say anything more. I wasn't really hungry, but had to keep myself occupied till it was over, maybe then I could escape to my bedroom and lock myself in or something.
Strangely enough, no one commented.
The silence that followed was awkward and uncomfortable.
After dinner we separated; April and Casey remained in the kitchen to wash the dishes together, Angel helped out and sorted the dry ones in their rightful place. I exited the house and made my way to the barn, up to the hayloft and plopped on a huge stack of hay. It was Mike's favorite spot whenever we come here to Northampton, so I hope he won't mind if I bunk here for tonight.
Sure, I have a clean and comfy bedroom waiting for me inside, I just don't feel like going in there, not now.
I lay awake on the hay and stared blankly at the small circular window.
I couldn't sleep no matter how much I wanted, no matter how tired or spent I was. I was just too frustrated and it kept me wide awake. I complemented the view through the window with a tiny smile, mesmerized at the vast sea of dark blue and littered with twinkling stars. Mike had a pretty good idea when he chose this place, no wonder he likes to come here so often.
But then there was the sound of shoes on straws of hay, soft crunchy sounds were clear.
"Hey there, I was wondering where you went." She greeted gently, her voice outwardly expressed her cheerful and mellow mood. She stood on the ladder steps at the level where her hip pressed against the hayloft's floor, before she climbed up the last few steps off the ladder and onto the hayloft, and then stood at the foot of the hay pile near my feet, she folded her hands behind her back cutely.
I spared her a blank stare, before I looked out the window again, "Yes?"
"Mind if I join you?" she requested cutely.
I sighed and tried not to frown, "Shouldn't you be inside?" I argued dejectedly, I was really in no mood for her flirting.
I was an emotional mess without her being there near me. I can't think when she's around because she keeps distracting me. Just when I thought that I've found my center and started to relax and drift away, she had to make herself present?
She replied to my inquiry with a cute pout, "They don't need me for anything and I've already finished my chores for today, or tonight." She kicked some hay and a small cloud of dust rose, "So when they started kissing, I decided to make myself scarce." She flashed a knowing grin.
Uninvited she came closer and settled on the hay pile right next to me. "Prickly." She commented with a giggle and smoothed down some stray straws, got comfortable and hugged her knees.
When I glanced at her and wondered what she wanted, she flashed me one of those cute and disarming 'we need to talk' smiles. With a groan, I ignored her and rolled to my side, my arm folded under my head like a pillow.
"Ya know, it's not nice to ignore a lady." She whined and placed a hand on my shoulder, she caressed my scalp with the other, "Raph, we need to talk." She said quietly then added, "Please?"
I ignored her still, but her touch prickled my skin, bubbles started in my stomach and those damn knots twisted again. It was so hard to keep my train of thoughts from straying off track with her warm, bubbly presence near me.
For a moment, I wondered if this is how Don felt towards April.
I mean, it was pretty obvious my quiet and brainy brother had a crush on her when we first met the redhead, but yet he never dared a move and whether or not April noticed it, she never reacted.
Or at least, I don't think or recall her ever reacting.
At least now I can sympathize with him, because it sucks to be in love, especially when you know it's wrong in so many ways. Now I understand why he stepped back and let Casey walk in to take her, it's the only way for April to be with someone she loves, and still be granted the future she wanted, a future she deserved and fulfills her wishes to be normal.
"I'm sorry." Angel murmured softly and broke my thoughts when she drew back her hand, "I don't mean to make you feel uncomfortable, Raphael. I just want to talk to you, please?" she pleaded meekly.
The second she drew back, I swallowed the need to protest; already I missed her warm and tender touch.
Heart heavy and mind heavier, I rolled over and lay to my shell and allowed my body a moment to sink into they pile of hay, before I looked at her saddened face. Those glassy brown pools she calls eyes were painful to look at, especially with that convincing puppy-eyed look, they made the guilt in my stomach grow worse, it made me so nervous.
"It's not your fault. It's me." I murmured and reached a hand to cup her cheek, to brush away the seemingly forming tears.
Her brows sky rose, "And how is this your fault?"
"I'm not human." I blurt out the flat truth.
She furrowed, an upset gleam shone clear, "And how can you not be human?"
I huffed an irritated sigh and turned away, "You know what I'm saying, Angel." I growled weakly.
She gave a negative shake and tisked, her forelock hair bounced with the motion, "Raph, you are one of the most human beings I have ever come across!" she exclaimed, "Heck! You're just hard on the outside but really sweet on the inside, like a jawbreaker." She teased with a broad grin.
"Angel, please." I groaned and turned away, I hated it when they say that.
I didn't want to listen to a sap story because she's good at telling them, especially when she wants to convince me.
She scooted closer to cup my face and slowly pressed her palm to my cheek, she turned my head to face her. Her soft thumbs tenderly brushed my lower lip and she smiled sweetly, thoughtfully before she spoke, "If you mean the physical form, it really doesn't matter to me." She cooed, "I love you for who you are, Raph, not how you look like." She confessed.
"I can't convince you otherwise, can I?" I questioned blankly.
"Nope." She giggled and stars twinkled in her eyes as she brought up both hands to cup my face, "Through thick and thin, love will prevail." she pecked me on the lips, "You can run all you want Raph, but you can't hide from cupid." She grinned.
I sighed with her soft kiss, it gave me a split second to balance myself again, to think more clearly.
It's just one of those traits about Angel that amuses yet scares me; I don't know how she does it.
Sometimes, it's the mystery of who she is that attracts me, it's one of those things I deeply love about her.
But if I want her to be happy, perhaps I should take by Don's example?
Easier said than done, so I'm gonna keep her, up until I find someone worthy of her.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
A/N: um…
